September :Atlas Class Question

[Mike15601]

I was offered a F/O position on the 200 for September. After one year, can you bid over to the 400 as a F/O if a vacancy exists? I seem to remember Captain Mike Bryant(Atlas Chief Pilot) saying you could during the interview for that particular scenario. Any insiders have the scoop? Thanks, Mike

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

You one of those Gucci boys that has to be on the 400 as a status symbol?!


One year on the Polar side until you can bid the 400 (Subject to change as the need arises) I think Atlas is the same though. Upgrade will be on the 200 first anyhow. From what I have seen, most of the guys try to fly the 200 some as an F/O before trying to upgrade. There is a fairly high bust rate on the 400 guys trying to go to Capt. on the 200 with no time in it from what I hear. However I am a newbie myself and only have a few months with the company so I am going on what I have heard and seen so far.

Atlas types all F/O's though, no matter which plane you are on. The classics are mostly hand flown, while the 400 is mostly an excercise in programming. Not that you cannot use the autopilot in the 200's........they are just old and do not work all that well anymore unless you are straight and level!!

 

[I.P. Freley]

Upgrade will be on the 200 first anyhow. From what I have seen, most of the guys try to fly the 200 some as an F/O before trying to upgrade. There is a fairly high bust rate on the 400 guys trying to go to Capt. on the 200 with no time in it from what I hear. However I am a newbie myself and only have a few months with the company so I am going on what I have heard and seen so far.

I just had this conversation with a friend of mine who has been at Polar for a little over a year, and he does in fact have an opportunity to move to the 400. he also backs up what you said about 400 FO's trying to do upgrade on the 200 and they have a high bust rate.

In the end, I wonder why you'd want to move over to the 400 when you could stay on the 200 and upgrade sooner...

 

[Mike15601]

>>>You one of those Gucci boys that has to be on the 400 as a status symbol?! <<<
LOL, not at all. I have over 13 years in glass airplanes. (8000 + hours) F100, Airbus, CRJ, Emb 170. Just drawn to my comfort zone. Interview with Atlas was an overall very good experience. What a great group of people. Flew the 200 sim raw data for the evaluation. When all was said and done I thought...not bad, just like the old days on the 737.(steam gauge 200's,300/400's) It looks like one up front except there are four throttles and a F/E panel. I will fly anything and figure on getting the seniority number as soon as possable. (Big lesson learned from my present airline!) After 16 years in the domestic airline business I am looking forward to seeing things from a different angle. Thanks for ther reply, Mike

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

The 200 is a good bird, never underestimate how much the F/E does.....especially the Polar and Atlas guy/gals. All are PFE's and most have much more time in the 747 than the Captains do. I am still getting used to how much they do, in an emergency as an F/O you pretty much either talk on the radio, or fly the plane, the F/E deals with everything else. You have to learn the panel to be able to do the job in case the F/E is incipacitated, but in the day to day flying other than plotting the course, and shooting an approach, I feel pretty lazy compared to a two man airplane!

 

[Whale Rider]

Guys who fly FO on the Classic, don't fully appeciate the FE, until they go to the -400 and actually have to work. All and all both planes are AWESOME!

 

[Xfr8dog]

The 747 is a three person airplane. Why would you want to fly it with only two people???


As a 74 FO I gotta say, I have a ton of respect and appreciation for the FE's. As far as knowing what it is they're doing back there, well, it hurts my neck but I try!

...

 

[Draginass]

If you thinking about the -400 as a junior crewmember, remember that you'll be a bunkie and rarely get landings or stick time, since flights over 8 hours need 3 pilots.

On the other hand, the -200 flies with a basic crew (12 hours) almost always, so the FO flies every other leg of the trip, even if they're junior.

 

[rudderdog]

If you thinking about the -400 as a junior crewmember, remember that you'll be a bunkie and rarely get landings or stick time, since flights over 8 hours need 3 pilots.

On the other hand, the -200 flies with a basic crew (12 hours) almost always, so the FO flies every other leg of the trip, even if they're junior.

So lets see....new airplanes, glass cockpit, a few walk arounds, more sleep (in a bed being paid) and less work

or.....

old airplanes, steam gages, no walk arounds but a couple more landings, less sleep and sitting in the same seat for up to 12 hours.

I know what I would do.

 

[sgu]

Any word if they will be conducting more interviews? I am still hoping for a shot this year!

 

[Whale Rider]

Any word if they will be conducting more interviews? I am still hoping for a shot this year!

Spoke to a buddy in the school house, I heard all hiring has stopped on the Polar side until contract negotiations are done.

 

[mar]

Take the money and run!

In the end, I wonder why you'd want to move over to the 400 when you could stay on the 200 and upgrade sooner...

Probably because you never intended to stay at Atlas long enough to upgrade. Take two type ratings and go to work for Cathay or Emirates or...whomever you please!

Good luck.

 

[Mike15601]

Last w

 

[On Your Six]

Does Atlas also fly the 747-300s? Never been up to the upper deck but I always wondered what sort of rest facilities/bunks/gallies you had on the Freighter 747s. Do you have comfortable seats with a microwave oven, etc.? What do the excess pilots do during the long cruise?

 

[Mike15601]

A Pilot's Life - Atlas B747-400 Cargo F/O

 

[sgu]

Thanks for the info Mike.

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

Excellent reading and info Mike!

Thanks!

 

[Remington]

I heard the the Polar class next week is cancelled.
Any news about this?

 

[Draginass]

What's all the hiring for? Atlas doesn't have any more aircraft. Is attrition that bad? Is this a prelude for breaking the Polar union in the even of a strike?

 

[Mike15601]

Probably because you never intended to stay at Atlas long enough to upgrade. Take two type ratings and go to work for Cathay or Emirates or...whomever you please!

Good luck.

Mar, I may me taking your post wrong..
Your insinuation that I am coming here to gain new type ratings only to turn and hose this company is way off base. In the last 22 years I have flown for a corporation for 6, a legacy carrier for 14.5 and a Jet for Job (Mesa) contract for 1.5 years. I gave 110% to all of those jobs and I will do the same for Atlas. Again, if I took your post wrong, please accept my apology.

 

[Capt.LongThrust]

I heard the the Polar class next week is cancelled.
Any news about this?

Just got the call today. Nothing like a five day heads up.

 

[Guam360]

longthrust,
Polar?

 

[Capt.LongThrust]

yep polar. was told that it was due to the "labor dispute" as she put it. oh well, what can you do.

 

[Guam360]

no, that's cool, I have applied also, my friend is a Capt on then -400 and another friend just started, in fact he is still in DEN.

good luck, sounds great.

hoping for a call, thought that because of the labor dispute i may not be called for awhile...

later.

 

[mar]

No sir, you're mistaken!

Mar, I may me taking your post wrong...

No problem, but I wasn't talking about you. In fact, I wasn't talking about anyone in particular.

My response was to IPFreely (who was responding to KeroseneSnorter) about upgrade times on the -200 vs. the -400 and why anyone (third person singular) would move over to the -400.

I was just merely pointing out that someone could get two type ratings and be much more marketable with some experience behind them...

...and to be perfectly honest, this advice has been offered to me personally by some of our more senior guys: Go get typed in the -400 and then apply somewhere else....

Yeah, I see the logic, but I've never flown glass (am slightly afraid of it) and I love the -200 too much.

Welcome to Atlas. I think you'll dig it.

 

[Mike15601]

Thanks Mar..

 

[Fliteidol]

Good luck to the PO folks! Atlas makes more $ but Polar has better QOL, I dont` see Atlas folks giving up $ or Polar giving up their QOL under a merged contract! It could be good for everyone, right!!!! I hope there will be a "no furlough as a result of the merger" clause. Any impact on Atlas hiring or class dates yet?

 

[Whale Rider]

Good luck to the PO folks! Atlas makes more $ but Polar has better QOL, I dont` see Atlas folks giving up $ or Polar giving up their QOL under a merged contract! It could be good for everyone, right!!!! I hope there will be a "no furlough as a result of the merger" clause. Any impact on Atlas hiring or class dates yet?

There won't be any furloughs on the PO side as long as there are Atlas guys doing PO flying. Thats a contract fact. Plus the merger is on hold:

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050816/166072.html

 

[Tip Tank]

This is a little off subject (maybe), but could someone tell me where the intial training takes place and how often you get leave to visit family during the first three months at Atlas? I'd assume that you do NOT have jumpseat privlidges until you are on line. Is that correct also? I'm just curious a to how much of a family hardship the intial training is in addition to the $1200/Mo. you are supposed to get by on (I guess that's why we have a savings account).

Thanks.
- TT

 

[Neednewcareer]

TIP, training is in Miami. You get your ID the first week and can start jump seating. You will be in Miami for two months and have some days off that you can get away.